Sexual lubricant can make sex and masturbation much more enjoyable, particularly when you don't need to reapply during the act.
But the question, "How long does sex lube last?" doesn't have a straight answer.
There is a variety of sex lubes made with different ingredients. Some last longer than others, but they also have their drawbacks.
Don't worry; it's not rocket science. But it is important to know which lube is best for your style of between-the-sheets business to prevent infection and broken condoms.
Below, we'll cover:
👉 How long does each type of sex lube last
👉 The longest-lasting lube (hands-down)
👉 When each type of lube expires (and needs to be thrown away)
👉 Our favorite long-lasting lube brands
How Long Does Sex Lube Last?
Let's get down to business so you can get straight to "business time." How long does sex lube last?
These are the 4 main kinds of sex lube and how long they maintain their slipperiness before you have to reapply.
Water-Based Lube
How long does it stay slick: 5-10 minutes
When does it expire: 1-3 years
What you need to know:
Water-based lube is the most common type of sex lube. It's the safest and most versatile lube you can buy. You can use it for all types of sex and masturbation; it's easy to clean and consumable.
However, it doesn't stay slippery for very long. This probably won't be a problem if you're having vaginal sex.
Vaginas self-lubricate, so a bit of water-based lube should be enough to add extra slickness to the situation and protect the condom from slipping or breaking.
Water-based lube is typically preferred for masturbation because it's easy to clean up and won't stain your shorts.
Because water-based lube often contains glycerin, it may cause vaginal irritation for some women. If that's the case, we recommend a natural oil-based lube like Spunk Natural.
Water-based lube is not recommended for anal sex. It simply doesn't last long enough.
Longest-Lasting Water-Based Lubricants
Aqua Lube Natural Lube Thicker Gel Formula
$10.99
$12.99
Aqua Lube Natural is a water-based organic aloe formula. A thicker gel stays in place. With no parabens, glycerin, or alcohol, no petrochemicals, no artificial flavors/dyes. A gentle non-irritating formula perfect for delicate skins. Aqua Lube Natural is condom compatible,… Read More
Pink Natural Water-Based Lubricant
$9.99
$12.99
Pink Natural Body-Friendly Lubricant Pink Natural is Pink's new water-based lubricant designed for women and couples looking for very high-quality body-conscious formulations. Condomaniacs LOVE Pink Natural because it's... *Hypoallergenic*Fortified with Organic Aloe Vera Gel and Special Botanicals*Water-based*Safe for all toys*Unscented*Flavor-free*Paraben-free*Glycerin-free PINK… Read More
GUN OIL 'H2O' Water-Based Lubricant
$14.99
$15.95
Gun Oil H2O Lubricant Looking for a water-based lubricant that goes the extra mile? Reach for the GUN OIL.GUN OIL products are formulated to last for a long time, and this water-based lube is no different. Condomaniacs LOVE GUN OIL H2O… Read More
Sliquid H2O Water-Based Lubricant
$10.99
$11.99
Sliquid H2O: The Premier Water-Based Lube Looking for a lubricant that's long-lasting and safe for your body? Look no further than Sliquid H2O Water-Based Lubricant. This adult lubricant is formulated with purified water and plant cellulose to provide a natural,… Read More
Oil-Based Lube
How long does it stay slick: 20-30 minutes
When does it expire: 1-3 years
What you need to know:
Oil-based lube is much slicker than water-based lube, and it's kind to your skin (as long as it's made with a natural oil).
Coconut oil is the lube of choice for most porn stars, as they need to lube up often without having skin issues over time.
Oil-based lube is excellent for all types of sex and masturbation. In fact, our favorite masturbation cream is Gun Oil Stroke 29, an oil-based masturbation cream for penis-havers.
Natural oil-based lube is also safe to consume, making it a good choice for oral sex.
However, there is one major drawback to oil-based lube: It's not safe to use with latex condoms. Oil-based lube can degrade latex and lead to tears or breaks.
So, only for sex if you're going steady with someone and not using condoms. Or, switch to non-latex condoms and oil up without worry.
Longest-Lasting Oil-Based Lubricants
SPUNK Natural Coconut and Avocado Oil Lubricant
$10.99
$12.99
SPUNK NATURAL Lubricant SPUNK Lube Natural is a unique blend of edible, virgin coconut oil and organic avocado oil that locks in moisture for amazing natural personal lubrication. This vegan-friendly adult lubricant is free from silicone, glycerin, and parabens, as… Read More
Boy Butter Original Lubricant with Coconut Oil
$10.99
$14.00
Boy Butter Original Lubricant Boy Butter Original is an oil-based lubricant consisting of two powerful yet gentle ingredients: coconut oil and an organic silicone blend. The ingredients are homogenized like real butter. The result is a personal lubricant… Read More
Silicone-Based Lube
How long does it stay slick: 30 minutes
When does it expire: 1-3 years
What you need to know:
Drumroll, please…. Silicone lube is the longest-lasting lube! So there you have it. If you're looking for the lube that stays the slickest and the wettest, you've found it.
Silicone-based lube is the cream of the crop. It's ultra slick and gooey and feels super soft on your skin. Silicone lube is condom-safe, skin-safe, and amazing for anal sex.
It's also safe to consume a bit of it so you can go ahead and get kinky.
But silicone lube isn't perfect. It's notoriously hard to wash off, and it can stain your sheets. But the biggest downside is that you can't use it with silicone sex toys.
Silicone degrades silicone very quickly. It can create small tears in your sex toys that become homes for bacteria.
Long story short: you'll probably end up with an infection. For everything besides silicone sex toys, silicone lube is mint.
Longest-Lasting Silicone-Based Lubricants
GUN OIL Silicone Lubricant
$20.99
$22.99
Gun Oil Silicone Lubricant Attention, private! At ease. Designed to meet the needs of the most hardcore bedroom soldiers, Gun Oil Silicone provides slick, long-lasting lubrication thanks to its proprietary three-molecule silicone blend. You won't find a lube with the same texture… Read More
Fuck Water Premium Silicone Lubricant
$12.99
$18.99
Fuck Water SILICONE Sex Lubricant Alright, Condomaniacs, you're in for a wild ride with FuckWater Premium Silicone Lubricant. This isn't your average lube; this is the James Bond of lubricants, designed for stamina, endurance, and a super long-lasting performance that… Read More
Wet Platinum Premium Silicone Lubricant
$12.99
$18.99
Wet Platinum Premium Silicone Lubricant Wet Platinum is a silicone-based lubricant a long-lasting lubricant perfect for marathon sessions. Made from high-quality silicone, Wet Platinum is guaranteed to never get sticky. It can be used in water (did someone say SHOWER… Read More
Pjur Analyse Me! Silicone-Based Relaxing Anal Glide
$26.99
$31.99
Pjur Analyse Me! Silicone-Based Relaxing Anal Glide Anal sex can be a profoundly passionate and sensual experience, but proper preparation is essential. Pjur Analyse Me! is a silicone lubricant designed specifically to enhance anal play. It contains natural relaxants but no… Read More
Hybrid Lube
How long does it stay slick: 10-20 minutes
When does it expire: 1-3 years
What you need to know:
Hybrid lube is a blend of silicone lube and water-based lube. It combines the best of both lubricants in one bottle. You get the long-lasting velvetiness of silicone and the easy-to-clean benefits of water-based lube.
Hybrid lubes also tend to be cheaper than silicone-based lube, which is the costliest of the bunch.
Hybrid lube lasts quite a while, especially if you get a premium hybrid lube such as Gun Oil Force Recon or Sliquid Silk.
Many hybrid lubes claim to be silicone sex-toy safe, but we wouldn't take that chance. For silicone sex toys, it's best to use a water-based lube.
Longest-Lasting Hybrid Lubricants
Gun Oil "Force Recon" Hybrid Lube | 3.3oz
$15.99
$19.99
Gun Oil Force Recon Lubricant Hybrid-Based Lubricant: Provides the lasting glide of silicone and the easy clean up of a water-based formula. Unique formulation: The thick, no-drip and slick-smooth texture makes it easy to attach forces for controlled back or forward entry.… Read More
Sliquid SILK Non-Staining Silicone & Water-Based Lubricant
$8.99
$13.99
Sliquid Silk Non-Staining Silicone & Water Lubricant Sliquid Naturals Silk Lubricant is a unique blend of H2O water-based lubricant, 12% silicone, and creamy emollient esters for an even longer-lasting lubricant. Unlike pure silicone lubricants, this formula is non-staining. Sugar-free (glycerin and glycol),… Read More
SPUNK Hybrid Lubricant
$8.99
$10.99
SPUNK Lube Hybrid SPUNK Lube Hybrid is a water-based silicone lubricant that resembles the look and feel of natural body lubrication (ie: cum). It lets you feel the sensation of skin-to-skin contact. Why we LOVE SPUNK Hybrid SPUNK… Read More
Zero Tolerance Extra Thick Density Hybrid Anal Gel
$14.99
$18.99
Zero Tolerance Extra THICK Anal Gel This thick density lube is specially formulated for anal stimulation and play, with no numbing agents. Because it’s made of 100% vegan pharmaceutical grade ingredients, it’s completely body-safe and can also be used vaginally and… Read More
What is the Longest Lasting Lube EVER?
The longest-lasting lube hands-down is silicone lube. Depending on the brand, it can last over 30 minutes with just one application and is blissfully silky smooth.
If you want to get your hands on the longest-lasting lube, choose Gun Oil. It's not just our pick, either. This ultra-long-lasting lube has shown up on best-of lists around the web.
It was named the best long-lasting lube by Glamour Magazine and a top silicone lube for women by Women's Health.
As a runner-up, we recommend Sliquid Naturals Silver. This best-selling silicone lube is made with a highly concentrated formula to deliver slickness that does not quit.
Important: Not All Lube is Created Equal
Keep in mind that the numbers above are not exact. Different brands use ingredients of varying quality. For example, premium silicone lubricants contain higher-quality silicone and are slicker than basic ones.
So, how do you know you're getting a high-quality lube that lasts as long as you do?
The best way is to shop for sex lube at Condomania. We vet every brand before their products hit our shelves, and we only stock top sexual lubricants from trustworthy manufacturers.
We've been doing this for a long time (30+ years!), and we know what goes into a quality lube. For the longest-lasting lubes guaranteed safe and sublimely slippery, shop sex lube at Condomania now.
Want to learn more about using different types of lube to enhance your sex life? Read our ultimate guide to sexual lubricant here!